Big Leaguers Notebook: June 30

J.J. Putz brings laughs to D-backs clubhouse

 You can run, but you can't hide from J.J. Putz. The veteran reliever, team social director and prankster extraordinaire has brought some fun back to the D-backs clubhouse by planning team breakfasts, playful hotel kidnappings, kangaroo court ribbings and becoming a personal mentor to rookie teammate Joe Paterson. His best prank? Ordering 40 ties with an image from manager Kirk Gibson's 1989 Right Guard deodorant commercial and distributing them to every player on a team flight. (USA Today)

 Major League All-Stars including Joey Votto (MLB.com), Jim Thome (MLB.com) and Heath Bell (MLB.com) share their favorite memories from baseball's Midsummer Classics. Don't forget to give your favorite ballplayers the chance to make some unforgettable memories by nominating them for the 2011 All-Star Game -- voting ends June 30! (MLB.com)

 If you were an Arizona Diamondback, what would you eat for breakfast? (YouTube)

 For one night, Nationals Park will belong to Ryan Zimmerman. On June 30, Zimmerman will host his annual ziMS Foundation "Night at the Park," an event that has raised more than $500,000 to date to benefit the fight against multiple sclerosis. The cause hits close to home for the Nationals slugger, whose mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS in 1995. "[Multiple sclerosis] can mess up what you can do or how you go about what you do, but she doesn't let it mess up who she is," said Zimmerman of his inspirational mom. "You look at someone like that, who obviously can't do things they want, and for her to think of other people before her still is one of those things where you sit back and think, 'Man, there are a lot of people in this world who wouldn't do that. You never know what's going to happen with my mom. If you don't take time to enjoy it and realize life is good, you're going to look back and be disappointed." (The Washington Post)

 Happy Social Media Day, baseball fans! Brett Cecil watched cartoons and Sesame Street with his little guy (Twitter), Heath Bell's cat has its eye on the family's new fish (Twitter), and Shawn Kelley and David Aardsma are addicted to "Modern Family" (Twitter: 1 / 2). Chris Johnson helped plant 19 trees (Twitter), and it was a big day for Kerry Wood, who joined the Twitterverse and launched his Wood Family Foundation (Twitter)

 Brian Wilson's beard may inspire the most fear, but Chris Perez's beard is the original. (MLB FanCave)

 Tigers players Jose Valverde and Ramon Santiago will show off their fancy moves in a celebrity ballroom dancing competition. (Detroit Free Press)

Tweet of the Day: "Just received a letter from Casey Schurman and the entire 5th grade class at Bollman Bridge Elem. What I live for. yfrog.com/kh96ufnj" -- Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (@SimplyAJ10). Jones also met with kids from the Y of Central Maryland at Baltimore's Journeys Camp. (Twitter)

Quote of the Day: "That's the most special one on the list. Every hit you get and whoever you tie or pass is special, but I think Ted Williams is tops for me. He'll go down as the greatest hitter of all time. Obviously, he probably could have gotten more hits if he didn't walk as much. And also serving our country like he did. He's numero uno. " -- Rays desginated hitter Johnny Damon (St. Petersburg Times). Damon singled Wednesday to tie Ted Williams with 2,654 career hits to climb to No. 71 on the all-time list. (MLB.com)

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.